Garden Profile: Bonnie Helander’s Garden
April 13, 2013 by Bonnie Helander
Filed under outdoor
Spring is here and Fayette County gardens are bursting into bloom. Since we have so many talented gardeners and stunning gardens in our community, Fayette Woman is initiating a new segment, Garden Profiles. Periodically throughout the year, I am going to highlight a lovely garden in our area so you can enjoy the beauty [...]
Hot Plants for the Spring Garden
April 11, 2013 by Bonnie Helander
Filed under outdoor
Each spring, gardeners flock to local nurseries to learn what new plants are available to add color, texture, fragrance and the “wow” factor to their landscapes. To get advice on some of the must-have plants to look for this year, I talked to some local experts who are just as excited as the gardeners about [...]
Backyard Chickens in PTC?
April 9, 2013 by Bonnie Helander
Filed under outdoor
Campaign Underway to Bring Backyard Chickens to Peachtree City It was really just a fluke that got Peachtree City resident Julee Smilley keeping chickens: a friend was moving and could not find a place for her four pullets (young hens). Julee offered to find them a new home, but she soon became charmed by the [...]
Best Fruit Plants for the Southern Garden
February 17, 2013 by Bonnie Helander
Filed under outdoor
Mid-winter is the perfect time to plant fruit trees and shrubs in anticipation of enjoying your own delicious harvest in the years ahead. Many people are reluctant to grow fruit because they believe the process is too challenging. While growing some fruit, like peaches and apples, can be a daunting task, you’ll be surprised how [...]
Join Backyard Bird Count Feb. 15-18!
February 7, 2013 by Bonnie Helander
Filed under Garden Views
Each year in February for a four-day period, people across the country and around the world take some time to count the birds they see in backyards, parks, woods, wetlands or anywhere you find our feathered friends. It only takes as little as 15 minutes on one day or you can count as long as [...]
Gardening Resolutions for the New Year
January 22, 2013 by Bonnie Helander
Filed under outdoor
It’s that time of year again when we make those half-hearted resolutions that will be forgotten before January has ended. If you are like me, you probably put “lose ten pounds and exercise more” on your list every year! We’re great at focusing on personal health and fitness goals, but we often neglect to consider [...]
The Legacy of Joan Carroll
January 10, 2013 by Bonnie Helander
Filed under Good Stories
Joan Carroll is an elegant, soft-spoken New Englander who has made Peachtree City her home after living and traveling all over the world. The youngest of three girls, Joan was born in Peabody, Massachusetts to Canadian parents. She has fond memories of lake vacations in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. After attending college at [...]
Atlanta Botanical Garden Lights Up the Skyline for the Holidays
November 27, 2012 by Bonnie Helander
Filed under Garden Views
It’s time to start a new holiday tradition and bring your whole family to Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Garden Lights – Holiday Nights, where you can wander through a 30-acre fantasy land of over a million lights. The light show runs through January 5th and will get more crowded as we get closer to Christmas. My [...]
Reap the Health Benefits of Gardening
October 25, 2012 by Bonnie Helander
Filed under outdoor
Do you view gardening as “yard work” and see it as a chore? If so, you need to change your perspective. Numerous scientific studies emphasize the amazing health benefits associated with gardening. Gardening positively affects the body, mind, soul and spirit. Instead of looking for a wonder drug, why not try this wonder activity? Gardeners [...]
Showy Shrubs for the Southern Garden
October 12, 2012 by Bonnie Helander
Filed under outdoor
Shrubs are the “glue” in the garden, providing a connection between towering trees and small perennials and annuals. They form the middle layer of plants in the landscape to give a cohesive look. Once established, most shrubs require less maintenance and will flourish for years to come. Fall is the perfect time to plant new [...]
The Legacy of Kathie Cheney
September 14, 2012 by Bonnie Helander
Filed under Good Stories
Kathie Cheney is a Florida girl, one of five sisters, born and reared in Miami Beach. In her freshman year at Miami Dade Jr. College, she met fellow student, Kevin Cheney, and they became fast friends. Later they both transferred to the University of Florida and graduated in 1968. Kathie earned a degree in Education [...]
Designing with Containers: Think Outside the Pot!
September 14, 2012 by Bonnie Helander
Filed under Garden Views
As the weather cools and you get outside in your garden again, consider where you need a focal point to liven up an empty or monochromatic space. Containers are a great way to add a pop of color or an interesting shape, texture or style to the garden scene – and you don’t even need [...]